Justino (19-1) endured her first five-round fight against former bantam-weight champion Holm in the main event of UFC 219 at T-Mobile Arena. The judges scored the bout 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 as Justino remained unbeaten since 2005.

Justino withstood much to become champion, and Saturday she conquered an extended test against the best punches of former a boxing champion, and kicks from the woman who used them to dethrone Ronda Rousey two years ago.

While Holm (11-4) displayed impressive cardio ability, employing an effective fight plan early to land kicks and well-placed punches, Justino countered with her usual fierceness.

The champion was punched in the nose early in the first round and Holm tested her like no one before in cruising through the second round, burning seconds by pushing Justino's back to the cage.

But Justino began to find increased openings in the third, and she won the final three rounds on all three scorecards, jumping into a hard power punch to Holm's face to close the third.

Holm's face was noticeably swelling near her left eye in the fourth from the punishment that Justino inflicted, including a kick to the head. Another power punch by Justino was the most impressive of the fourth round, backing up Holm late.

To win the final round, Justino hit Holm with a combination of three power punches in the final minute. Justino's eight-fight knockout streak ends, but her reign as champ continues.

"Thank you to Holly Holm. She is an amazing fighter and I had a great time fighting her tonight," the Costa Mesa, Calif.-trained Justino said in the Octagon, calling for a fight against Invicta featherweight champ Megan Anderson in Australia.

In the co-main event, Russian lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (25-0) mostly mauled fourth-rated Edson Barboza, winning a unanimous decision by lopsided scores of 30-25 twice and 30-24 to move toward a showdown against either interim champion Tony Ferguson in the spring or full champion Conor McGregor later in 2018.

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LAS VEGAS -- Holly Holm has ridden perhaps the UFC's most volatile career roller coaster, from the zenith of her upset of Ronda Rousey two years ago to a three-fight losing streak that left her in tears earlier this year. ...Read More

LAS VEGAS -- Holly Holm has ridden perhaps the UFC's most volatile career roller coaster, from the zenith of her upset of Ronda Rousey two years ago to a three-fight losing streak that left her in tears earlier this year. ...Read More